What's new in the mid-Hudson Valley business scene for Nov. 14

APPOINTMENT

Leignadier, a Hudson Valley native and graduate of Pine Bush High School, began her financial career with the bank in 1990 as a teller at the Walden office.

She has held positions as head bookkeeper, head teller of the New Windsor branch, and assistant branch manager of the Montgomery and Cornwall offices.

GOOD BUSINESS

Lowe's and Rebuilding Together help local communities - Lowe's is kicking off home rehabilitation projects nationwide to address critical home needs during cold weather months.

Lowe's will support 65 Rebuilding Together affiliates, including Rebuilding Together Dutchess County, by helping them achieve their mission of giving low-income homeowners a safe and healthy home.

Each of the affiliates will receive $8,000 in funding to focus on weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades for low-income homeowners. Recipients can expect to see a wide range of modifications such as either new window or door installation or both; insulation, caulking and sealing of existing windows and doors; installing energy- efficient furnaces and heaters; and other ways to increase warmth and help reduce overall utility costs.

This $520,000 grant is part of the overall $2 million Lowe's has donated to Rebuilding Together's mission for 2012.

ETC.

Hospital receives top award - Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie has received the National Research Corporation 2012/2013 Consumer Choice Award.

It is the only hospital in the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown Core Based Statistical Area to receive this award.

This is the ninth consecutive first-place ranking for the hospital.

The Consumer Choice award identifies hospitals that health-care consumers have chosen as having the highest quality and image in more than 300 markets throughout the country.

Vassar Brothers Medical Center is a 365-bed facility that has been serving the Mid-Hudson Valley since 1887.